Diviwg-armor



E. NIEHOFI DIVING ARMOR.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE |10, 1918. 1,307,921.

Patented June 24, 1919.

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INVENTUR EmeJA/zhoff v By w AT'OHNEYS E. NIEHOFF.

DIVIVNG ARMOR. ,111111101111911 111E1J1UNE10.1918. RENEwEn11111121.1919.

Patented Jun 24, 1919.

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WITNESS A TTRNEYS UNiTnn sTATns PATENT onnion.

ERNEST NInHorF, or BROOKLYN, New Yoan.

i Divine-Ammon. l i 1 specification of Letters Patent. `Patented ,Tune24, 1919,

`Appleman medium io, ieiaseriai No. 239,195. Renewed Maren 21` 1919.serial 15.284.117?.

be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, j such as willenable others skilled in the art` to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention relatesto diving armor, and

has for its principal object to construct a device of thischaracterwhich comprises a` jointed metallic suit and a flexiblewaterproof inclosing suit, with means between the suits for preventingthe water-pressure on the flexible suit from interfering with the actionof the joints; to produce aninn` proved anti-friction fabric forinterposition` with respect to the suits mentioned, and a harness formaintaining sheets of this fabric in place; and to improve theconstruction generally so as to provide a great amplitude of movementand `provide against any pos-` sible leakage.

To the accomplishment of the recited ob` jects, the preferred embodimentof my in` vention resides in that construction and arrangement of partshereinafter described,

shown in the accompanying drawings, and

embraced within the scope of the appended claims. i

ln sajd drawings,

Figure `1 is a front `elevation `of j the metallic suit, and

Fig. 2 is a vertical section view taken along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary sectionfof one of the oints.

Fig. 4L is a front elevation ofthe flexible suit, the anti-frictionharness being indicated by dotted lines. j iFig. 5 is a front Ielevationof the antifriction harness.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view showing the arrangement of theanti-friction element.

Fi 7 is a transverse section taken along line 7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation illustrating the position ofthe arm-pit joint with respect to the adjacent portion of the flexiblesuit.

inFig,` 3 `of the drawings.

j Fijgg.` Q is a sectional view taken along line 9er-9 of Fig. l, and j.Fig. 10 is a `transverse sectional view taken alongline 10-10 `of Fig.Ll..

My inyeiition comprises three essential separate and distinct portions,an outer` flexible suit, an intermediate anti-friction harness andanjinner metallic suit.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings,`the metallic suit 1 comprisesa body portion 2,1 carrying a helmet .3 and `arms 4. The helmet is ofconventional type, and is providedwith a depending annular flange 5which fits over a correspondinglyshaped flange 6 extending verticallyfrom the body 2, one. or `more thumb screws as 7` projecting throughthctwo `flanges and serving to complete the connection at this point. Eacharm 4g consistsof an upper sectionS rotatively mounted `relatively `tothe annular extension `9` ofthe body 2, ball bearings `prefierablybeingprovided `at the junction ofsection 8 and collar9 ofbody 2. Aseotion 10 is pivoted "at 11to the lower termiiialof section 8i `and the`fore-arm section 12 is pivoted at13 to the section 10.` In order toprovidefor movement of the forearm section in ahorizontal plane, thesame i ispreferably split and the adjacent edges thereof surrounded byaflange 111, between whichlatter and thelower portion of section 10 arace-way is formed for the reception `of ball bearings 15, as clearlyexhibited Ctherwise, the different sections of the arm are adapted to bemoved telescopically with `respect to each other. The smaller extremityof the body portion" 2, as at 16, is somewhat thickcned, whiletheextreme end 17 is reduced in thickness and `slightly rounded to serveas a socket for the portion 18 which constitutes the main gconnectionbetween the body and the leg 19. `lrimarily, each leg is formed of three`sections20, 21, and 22, although the last mentioned section may be moreaptly `styled as the footsection. i Eachyof thegsections is joined tothe adjacent section by means of what may be termed a ball and socketconnection, and in addition, section 21 is recessed mid-way of itslength, and provided with anti-friction bearings 15 in the same manneras explained in connection with the arm l of the metallic suit.

From the foregoing it will be seen that each of the arms 4 may berotated as an en tirety in a vertical plane; that the fore-arm section12 may be rotated in a horizontal plane, and that otherwise thedifferentsec-` tions comprising the arm may be moved to any desired position,each foot-section 22 may be adjusted in either a vertical or ahorizontal plane, in accordance with the particular requirements.

The flexible suit 23, as exhibited in Fig. 4 of the drawings, isintended to be worn over the metallic suit 1. It comprises two mainportions, a body portion 24 and leg portion 25,. At the lower edge ofthe body portion 24 is a band 26 and asimilar band 27 is carried by theupper edge of the leg portion y25. A thumb screw 28 passes through thetwo edges and the two bands and forms a seal at this junction, asclearly shown in Fig. 9 ofthe drawings. Similar devices are arrangedbetween the lower edges of the sleeves 29'of thebody and gloves 30, aswell as ,between the adjacent edges of the legs 25 and boots 3l over aconcentric clamping ring 32.

Between the outer flexible suit 23 and the metallic suit 2, isinterposed a harness, which aswill be found upon inspection of Fig. 5,comprises a plurality of tubular elements 83, connected together bymeans of tape, strips or the like 34. 'Each tubular section isApreferably formed of canvas or similar material with any desired numberof eyelets as 85 extending therethrough, each eyelet containing adouble-headed rivet, stud or the like 36', the idea being that thetubular elements are ,to occupy positions surrounding the joints of ,thebody and limbs .of the diver, and that the studs `36 will serve asspacing devices betweenv the outer flexible v garment or suit 24 and theinner metallic suit, thereby preventing the pressure of the` water onthe'outer vflexible suit from being transmitted to and interfering withythe normal ease of action of the j oints ofthe metallic suit.

What is claimed is:

l.. A diving armor comprising a jointed metallic suit, a water-proof'flexiblesuit inclosing it, a `helmet Iprojecting from the metal suitthrough the flexible suit, and a flexible element 'between the two suitsand having anti-friction means disposed laround the joints of the metalsuit.

2. A diving armor comprising a metallic suit, joints formed therein, aflexible suit located over the metallic suit, and a fabric provided withanti-friction means located between the suits and around the joints.

3. A diving armor comprising a metallic suit provided with a joint, aflexible suit surrounding the joint, a flexible device located betweenthe joint and the flexible suit, and anti-friction means carried by thedevice and adapted to engage both the metallic joint and the flexiblesuit surrounding the same.

4. A diving armor comprising a metallic suit provided with joints, aflexible suit sur rounding the metal suit, a flexible fabric locatedetween the suits and around the joints of `the former suit, andanti-friction spacing elements carried by the fabric and adapted toengage both suits, for the purpose set forth.

5. In a diving armor, the combination with a metallic suit, ointstherein, a helmet, and a water-proof suit inclosing the metallic suitexcepting the helmet; of a flexible antifriction element interposedbetween the two suit-s and composed of'members surrounding the joints ofthe metal suit, and a harness consisting of straps connecting saidmembers, for the purpose set forth.

6. An anti-friction fabric for diving armor adapted to lie between thejoints of a metallic suit anda flexible inelosin g suit, the samecomprising a flexible layer provided with per-forations, .andanti-friction means anchored in the perforations.

7. A diving dress comprising an outer flexible suit,`an inner metallicsuit, and a harness fitted about the oints of said metallic suit, saidharness comprising flexible material and means for spacing the same withrespect to said outer and linner suits.

8. A harness for diving armor consisting of a plurality of tubularsections joined together, each section including a plurality of spacingdevices.

9. A harness adapted to be worn between 'an outer Hexible suit and aninner metallic suit, said harness comprising flexible material fittedabout the joints of said metallic suit and means for maintaining it inspaced relation with respect to the .other suit.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence vof two witnesses.

' ERNEST N IEHOFF. lVitnesscs: B. V. RAPPAPORT, WILLIAM GOLDEN.

Copies of this :patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. i

